New Governor Of

Dutch Ng

DR. J. VAN BAAL, the new Governor of Dutch New Guinea, who recently arrived in Hollandia to take up his official duties, is no stranger to peoples in South Pacific regions.

Born at Scheveningen, near the Hague, in 1909, Dr. van Baal took a degree at Leyden University in 1934, going to Merauke in Dutch NG in 1936 and Java in 1938. His native research work at Lombok in the Dutch East Indies was inter rupted in 1941 by the Japanese invasion.

After the war, Dr. van Baal went to Holland, returning to the Indies in 1948 as Assistant Resident. The next year he was appointed to tele control of the office for Popula tion Affairs at Hollandia. Last year he was elected a member of the Dutch Lower House and left New Guinea to take an active part in parliamentary affairs in the Nether lands.

His appointment seems to indi cate the Netherlands’ Government’s determination not to yield to the Indonesian claims on Dutch NG.

H Mr. Brian McCook, late of Tas man Empire Airways and formerly Df the RNZAF, joined Fiji Airways as a pilot in May.

This very large block of modern offices is being built for Burns Philp (NG), Ltd., in Port Moresby. When completed, some Government Departments will have offices in the building. The new offices are opposite the new BP store that was opened at the beginning of the year and next to the old BP building with the tower which was long a Port Moresby landmark.